Method and apfakal tts for finishing leather



July 31, 1923.

A. A. ANGELL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING LEATHER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 'a fi.

J i'rnoz 225 fiffarnei Filed Oct.

July 31, 1923.

A. A ANGELL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING LEATHER July 31, 1923. 1,463,542

A. A. ANGELL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING LEATHER Fiied Oct. 24 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet July 31, 1923.

A. A. ANGELL us'rnon AND APPARATUS For! FINISHING LEATHER 1921 4 Shuts-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 24

In z/en 7'01" Patented July 31, 1923.

UNITED STATES ARNGLZU A. ANGELL, 0F GHIGARGQ ILLINOIS.

IfiETHOI) AND APPARATUS FOB. FINISHING LEATHER.

Appiicaticm flicd October 24. 1521.

Be it knmvn that l Ala-Kim. i ANGEL! a liitiznn nl' lhv FI'lllifll Nam-g :aml :1 resident of lllP vity nl' hivagm want of (min and Stan of lllinnis, haw inwnh-ii vermin new and useful IZll1ll'U\'Pllli?l'll,h in Whe ls and Apparatus fur l 'inishiing Leafhvr. (2f which the l'ullflwin in Qpfifllll'ilil fll.

My in'lentinn ri-lalm tn :hcin? ni iinishing leather, and the principal object of the invention in us mechanivnl means in applying all the m ..is of finishing materiai to leather, and to apply hmwier cor-ls than has heretofore been possible.

Another ObjWTT'lS l0 pre-veni running of the routing nmtrriuh by drying the same hvfnre suc'h runnin m1; lHiI'UY.

Another niz-jwt in p means which will allow th iwiiwr sharia tn lie in. a flat, horizontal pDHilinn during: the initial (1! ing proress, in order tn prevent running 0 the finishing mats.

Another object is to provide cunwying mechanism for the coated leather slur-l: which will permit the convnninnt and than (nigh handswahhing 0f the stock during its travel from the mat-applying: niei-hzmism t0 the delivery nnrl 0f the Tilflxllliilli A furihu' nhjnct. is in pmvi ln spea-ial means for assuring Elie proper initial drying Of the leather stock.

Other ohjevts will appear hereinafter.

In the past. the finishing w ats in lenlhnr have generally been applied by hand, by means of a brush or, swab flipped intn :1 pan of the finishing material, and the finzil finishing coats were up iiierl by hand even though thefirst 01" am or coats; had hvnn applied by mnchimn The finishing coals were therefnre wry uft en unevenly nppliml. After the mats were so appliwh ihe finish swalihed off, in rem-aw izlw hrusli marina, by means of a hand snah covered with plush or velvet. The leather was llwn hung zlp m1 racks for drying. My mavhine applies these finishing coats evenly 0n the leather, and then by means of a belt mriveyrir traveling (War a supporting table, ilk anathw m!- ried in a flat horizunlal pu-"siiinn allowing the Workman, who alsu aria as i3i$')ECt(il.. to swab 0.1T the leather as it passes by him. The bkllli conveyor carries the leather in the horizontal osition long enough to allow it to dry suliiciently to prevent running of the coating when the leather subsequently Sarial N0 510.6111

pilml down on {rm-lav 51nd irimsporin l 0r hung up for inrlln'r drying. in order in asanle Hm im-par and thfiTOHfIii initial drying of th Mather While panning mm The r'mwyur unit, I prefer to pmvide drying meanre in {ho form 5 heat wile. and lfilfily fans-s (ll'EQ('ill1{-Z :1 warren; iii air nnln the lf'fil'l'i -i" on EllL halt. This: mniws it POSRlhlE to nae u "lzuiifll ln li.

'lhn im'onlion furllm consists in the (hmhinatinns and arrangvnwnm 0! parts heeinnfter (la riherl and 'lanilnE-(i.

The invnntinn will he henl nmlersmm'l by rn'l'vrwcn (,0 the npit-nmpanyingdrawings Forming a para at this spw' ilirat fin, in vim-i2.

l i i m rmrli" fli 4 Q The iii 'mljwlymg (T-Ci Hi m5 unproven lie-Al ne! 511i- (thine). fragmentary parts of mi ism-syn! mr-vlnmi-=m and drying mmhnnirm ii-Ping Shir-om;

B is :1 ridr view of the 1? mg and deliwry nnfl uf the mnvhine. the purtiun oniifinxi in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is n ll'uss-snl'lifinal \inw 3-3 m" Fig. 2;

' Z ia vrusiwiiun1zl View an line i 1. slwn nu aim finish-applying and lire limping iner'hzinism;

Fig. 5 is a frngnmnfm v sectional VlFW of tin: take-nil" uprnn 21ml irip moans. taken 5 5 {TE Fig-t. 4':

ii :1 fl'zignwnlnr smiiueml Tl? on m Pip l, islnwing he means for washing sin: mn eym' iv t:

Fig. I is a pnrl'iai hnriyinniai wr'ticinul view when on {me 7 T Fin. 1? li 'HTliig the (lryin y rnevhainisiw min Fig. R 1F- an end Vim: vi the T IHl! TEX-1: am: squ vgm! mi belt (lrnnei irlmha lulivn on. line 8 u? l'ig. l.

In llw "lliifilllfi f'l numvnzi ilifu'litr; the main {ran-m hi my luathrr lllllhlllilg mavhinv. wliir-h has, a l'nlnlnliie Lliflliil l2 ninnmw ml at lib upper end, and a plurulily {if :1 tary hrushes 13 nznunlwl :ihnvn :mhl drum. The brushes rlrivvn to rotate will; said drum as by rib-am iii a hell. 1- running on pullvys i5 and i rxmnmrixcxl in the drum and hlushm reepeclivvly. and owr an idle-r pul lay 151' mnnnted on the frnmn, adjmmnr pul hey 15. 21; shown in 1 and 4 0!. said brushes may be driven in any suitslsin mannor, the drum and brushes relating in the same clit'eciioni at their engaging slgrfnngg mi line ioo providing for thorough andcomplete coatlog and spreading of the finishing material over the leather. The finishing material is transferred from a pun 17 to the first of the series of brushes 3 by means of a feed roller 18 which is corrugated or grooved on its periphery for the proper transfer of material from the pen to the adjacent brush, said feed roller being driven from the drum by a suitable belt 19 running on pulleys 20 and 21 connected to the feed roller and drum respectively (see Fig. 4). 'The drum is driven by applying a drivingbclt (not shown) to the pulley 22, shown in Fig. 4.

The leather 23 is fed onto the finishing drum 12 by applying it thereto beneath. the pan 1?, as SlmWIl in Fig. 1. The plurality of brushes til spread the finishing material.-

evenly and smoothly U\(I the leather as. it passes beneath them on the drum.

Finishing machines comprisin a mechunism similar to the above have con in use for some time. but they were used for applying the rough or under coat to the leather, and the final finishing coats were applied by the old hand method, briefly set forth abdve.

My complete leather finishing, machine is provided with the above described mecha nism for completely and thoroughly ap plying all coats, of material, including the final finishing coats, and in addition to said iinislnapplying mechanism, l provide means for conveying the leather stock in a flat,-

horizoutal position, permitting convenient and thorough hand swabbiug thereof, and also permitting; initial drying of the'leather. This conveyor means comprises an endless belt iiofpreferably of rubber, or of any similar suitable material. Said belt is driven by a roller or drum 26 mounted in the frame 11, beneath the drum 12, said drums 12 and 26 being geared to run at equal peripheral speed in order that the articles or pieces of leather may travel at equal speed on tile drum l2 and belt 25 to avoid bombing of said leather. The driving connections shown comprise. a chain 27 and sprockets E58 and 2-! fastened on the drums 12 and 1 respectively, but may consist of any coincnient driving means. The belt is provided with a fiat,'horizontalsup porting means, in the form of a fiat table 30 having :1 smooth upper surface 31 preferubly consisting of an anti-rust metal such as brass. bronze or the like. The bracket 32 is attached to the far end of the table and is provided with an adjustable bearing for the support of the outer belt wheel 33, said hearing comprising sliding journal blocks 34, bolts 35 and nuts 36, mounted in the sides of said bracket, the journal blocks supporting the shaft of the rotatable belt wheel 33 which supports the outer end of the belt 25. y this adjustable bearing,

.further drying.

the proper tension may be retained in the belt. Suitable idler pulleys 37 are provided at.the lower part of the table for the support of the returning lower portion of the belt.

The distance over the blt conveyor from the finislrapplying mechanism to the outer wheel 33 is of the order of from 20 to feet, according to the size and purpose of the machine, and with the flatsupporting table extending substantially the entire length of the belt, a convenientspace is provided for iusi'iccting and hand-swabbing the leather which. lies in a flat, horizontal position on and moves with the moving belt, and suilicicut space is also provided for the initial drying of the leather" whereby the running'of the finishing coats is prevented when the leather thereafter hung up for of the tab c and swabs the leather, thereby smoothing and finishing the curling leather and ti'iuching up any uneven spots. This man thus arts as ovabhcr, inspector and fin.- isher. ll'ith a Wltlt' or large table, two or more men may lie requircd.-one or more on each side. i

I also provide my machine with tuke-ofi' means to remove the leather from the finishlug drum and to place it on the conveyor in :1. level and horizontal. position. This takeoif means comprises an apron .40, which extends the length of the finishing drum 12 and provided with a take ofi' knife edge 41, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Soul apron extends diagonally downward adjacent to the conveyor belt, and in the form illustrated is constructed in an upper and a loner part. forming a drip slot or opening 42 between the two parts for the discharge of moisture or finishing solution which the knife edge takes with the leather from the drum 12. A drip pan 43 is mounted beneath said slot 42, as by mounting it removably on brackets 44, or in any suitable manner. Ribs or fingers 45 are mounted on said apron to extend outwardly, or corrugations may be formed thereon. to permit the leather to slide thcreover and the moisture to run on the that part of the apron and pass through the slot 42 into the drip pan.

My machine may be supplied with special. means for insuring the rapid and thorough initial drying of the leather. In the form illustrated, such special drying means comprises heat coils l8 and rotatable fans 49, mounted above the belt and extending along the greater part of and over the outer portion of the table 30, beginning at a distance of about 15 feet awav from the finishapplying mechanism. t us leaving sutlicient space for hand-swabbing and inspecting. A hood/or cap 5*) is preferably provided around the ils and fans to guide the hot A man stands at the side Lil air onto the leather on the belt, and may be supported in any manner to suit the location. The heating coils may consist of steam pipes running longitudinally over the table and connected to lateral supply and discharge pipes 51, or may be arranged in any suitable manner, and may be mounted oh the hood or the Wall, or in any suitable Way. The fans 49, which may be of the usual two-blade variety, are mounted over the heat coils extending the width of the table, and a plurality of said fans is provided extending in a row longitudinally over said table, which fans force the air down onto the conveyor. The fans may be driven by means of shafts 52 rotatably mounted in brackets 53 fastened on the hot or may be mounted and driven in any suitable manner. The fans may also be used alone without the heat coils. or the heat coils maybe used alone wi hout the fans.

Since during the swabbing operation, the swab overruns the leather and moisture gets on the belt, I provide means to clean the belt. This means comprises a pan 515 containing a cleaning solution, as a soap solution or the like. This pan is mounted on the frame 11 immediately beneath the belt, and a rptary brush 56 is positioned in raid pan, its ends being mounted in collars 57 fastened on threaded rods 58 which are adjustably mounted in brackets 59 on the frame, said brush beingraised and lowered into and out of contact with the belt by means of nuts 60 placed on said threaded rods 58 above said brackets. The brush is rotated by the drum 26 as by means of a chain 61 and sprockets 62 and 63 mounted on the drum 26 and brush 56 respectively. This cleaning means is further provided with means to dry the washed belt, which means consists in the present form of a plate or squeegee 65, pivotally mounted at the upper end of the pan 55, as by means of ears 66 and pins 67 and is held in. contact with the belt 12 by means of springs 68 attached to said plate and pan, one end of each spring being removably fastened, as by providing hooks 69 on the -pan. The washing and drying mechanisms are normally released from the belt and are put in operation about once or twice a day.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. It will, for instance, be obvious that some kinds of coating will dryin air with such rapidity that as soon as they are swabbed the material can be hung up or piled down without injury to the coating. in which case the drying means will be um'iecessary; that other kinds of coating will need to be dried slowly, in which case the drying means will be Stli'JGl'll UQUS but a full length conveyor should be employed; and that some kinds of coating will require no swabbin in which case a fiat support for the article when received from the coating means will be superfluous. These omissions, and many modifications and alterations may readily be made without eliminating certain items which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

l. A combined apparatus for coatin leather completely, comprising mechanics coating means, a conveyor arranged to take an article from said coating means and carry it in horizontal position past an operator, where the coating can he perfected manually, and means for partially drying the article While still in horizontal position.

2. In a leather finishing machine, in combination, a. roller, a stripper and guide arranged to take an article from said roller, a conveyor arranged to take the article from said guide in horizontal position, mechanical coating means associated with said roller, and drip-catching means associated with said stripper and guide.

3. In a leather finishing machine. in combination, a roller. a stripper and guide arranged to take an article down from said 'rollcr, a conveyor arranged to take the article down from said guide inhorizontal position, mechanical coating means associated with said roiler. and drying means associated with said conveyor.

4. in a leather finishing machine, in combination, a roiler, a stripper and guide ar ranged to take an article "from said roller, and a conveyor arranged to take the article from said guide in horizontal position, coating means associated with said roller, dripcatching means associated with said stripper and guide, and drying means associated with said conveyor.

5. In a leather finishing machine, in combination, a roller, a stripper and guide arranged to take an article from said roller,

and a conveyor arranged to take the articlefrom said guide in horizontal position, coating means associated with said roller, dripcatching means associated with said stripper and guide, dryin means associated with said conveyor. and cleaning means operating on a portion 'of said conveyor not engaging! the article for removing material deposited on the conveyor.

("1. The method of coating leather. which comprises, in combination. applying a coating mechanically, layingthe material flat so that the coating will not run. and drying the material \vhile it remains in flat horizontal position.

'i'. The method of mating leather which comprises. in coinhination. at plying: a coat.

ing merhanii-ally. perfecting the coating manually. anti tlryin; the coating innnedh atel enough to prevent it from runnin".

8. The method of coating: leather which eomprise r. in romhination. applying a eoat ing mechanically. laying the material flat. perfertingz the t-oatiag maiuially. and tlry ing the (mating while the material is flat. enough to prrvent it, from running in sub sequent handling.

9. The methoil of tiniahing leather whirl! mniprisea. in tfll'nliitltillfin. applying: all the coat? of finishing material nut'hanirally. pellet-ting: eaeh (oat manually immediately after it has lietn me hanirallv appliwl. au'l tlrying earh roat la't orv it ran run.

i l. in a leather tininhiu; machine. in rombination. a roller. mating meam associated therewith. a atationary *trippur aiul zlzule.

.11 c'onveyor arranged to more lit-low Ftiltl guide atul take a piel'e of material there from. anal mttltis for tlri in z Sllltl r ll and conveyor at suhstantiaily the sanuslu't'are speed.

ll. lo a leather finishing aiarliine. in non ltinatiou. means for operating on a piwv of leather. a v nvoyor for t-arrying saitl lratlu'r past Hllill lllt'tlll a right stationary wpport uniilerlyiug the portion f Haiti warr or ailjar'ent saitl operating means. mini hllllphl't having a uon-rorroaire upper Ftil'liltt".

ti. in a lratlirr tininhingz mai-lliae. in rum" hinatioa. routing means. a n endless ronrt-yor vomprising a flat web arranged to rebeivtan Eli'tlt'l. from said coating means. means for l'ilowing hot air on the artit'le on the con- \eyoi to tlTV it. Ft'tltl blowing means overlying the lltl \'l' end of eaiil vnnveyor only. till rema nd r of -aiil t-nnre vor being open to rrinit urinual operation on the artir'le and a flat support. for Hllltl web for supporting Sllltl rvinaintlvr to {)(tttllt hand val-hing: of the arti les before they reach the hlowing means.

ill. in H'Httllllltttltlll. mechanical coating means. rewiring means for snm'iorting inalerial turning from Ftlid coating means in mnvenient rontlition for hautl F t'flbblIHLSit -l rcr' iving tat-ans supporting the article in movement past the swalihefis position anti beyond the -i1iilt. and means in addition to the natural tltfltl; aetion of the air on sait material for hastening the drying {)IQi s. H. in eomhination. a frame. a drum 15. In romhination. a frame. a drum journaled in the frame. rotary brushes for applymg and spreading a mating material to skins panning m or Haiti drum. a conveyor pulley flint) journaled in the frame. on endlrar woni'oyor n't-li having its top run ext-ending horizontally l'rozn Haiti pulley. a-table having a tlat top untlm'iying the top rim of Hlitl ell. means for driving; said :lrum and Saul r m'vyor pulley in uniwn. Hllll a rotary puu'rr ilriven ln'ush havin; a hasin therefor lwlow the return run of said weh for washin; the web.

W. in romliinatiou. a tratnt'. a drum journali-rl in the frame. rotary brushes for applying: and spreading a mating material to shins panning over sqai l :lrum. a ronveyor pulley also journalml iu the frame. an endless t-onrryor \Vt'li ha ring its top run extending horizontally from sale! pulley. a table having: a tlat top underlying the top run of ahl. weh. support ing ltQttor the table. supporting rollhrs for the return run of the Web tnouutetl on said talvlv toga. aml meant; for driving saitl tll'l lll :Uul -ai l (MIN-Fm pulley in unison.

t7. In combination a frame. a tlram journalutl in tho frame. liruahea for applying a i mating to shoots praising overthe top of the drum. :1 c-ntn'e 'nr romprising an endless tlat web. a ulley for said eonre 'or. said nulloy living jourualetl in the Frame below tllti tlrun'i illltl means for driving the drum amt pulle in unison. the pulley advancing the weh at a surface SDt'Qtl slightly in excess of the surface speed of the sheet on the drum. and stripping and guiding means for dripping the sheets off of the tlrutn and delivering them flat upon the oonvoyor.

18. in t'tilnljlfit lltlflmi frame. a drum jouruale l in the frame. iHllHllQQ for applying a (mating to sheets pawing over the top of the drum. a vonteyitir 301i prising a n endless flat; wet. a pulley for mi l rrunrji'or. said pulley hein;- journaleil iu the tramo lit-low said (iltlllt and means for ilriring the drum and pulley in uniaon. thipnlli-v alrzmving the web at a aurt'aen Fittml slightly in excess of tho rittlfttt't? llfitltl ot' the FltQPi on the drum kllttl stripping: and guiding means {or strip ping the sheet oil of the. drum an i delivering them flat upon the conveyor. and means for (training oil moisture from the bottom side of the stcins lwt'ore he pal-s onto the web.

1? In combination. I a relativvly long swabbing table for n'ahhing freshly coated shins, a hat well of a suitable width suported lat on said \Vt1l'ii)lllf,[ tahle anti lining lfitEIPOSEfl bPtwe n aaiil :aiilltf and the eovah hing taoie. means for mov ng i aitl w h with the shins thereon aProS mini awahlane tanle for swahhing. and (trying il'lfiilns extending over the latter enrl of th table for trying the routing on the Skitit; lo the point. where. they ran be handled whilv they are still Suppoglted flat on the web and moving across the ta e.

20. The method of handling skins for swabbing and finishing which comprises, supporting the skins upon a flat web, drawing the web across a fiat horizontal support- :ing surface, swabbing the skins on said moving web to perfect the coating, and drying the skins while still moving in the same position to the point where they can be 10 handled.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARNOLD A. ANGELL.

Witnesses JOSHUA R. H. Porrrs, FREDA C. Argnm'os. 

